Column

There is a human face to every tragedy––even the most violent and horrific ones. A filmmaker has the right to choose his stories and the points-of-view from which he narrates them. For instance, Ramgopal Varma may have a greater fascination for the ten terrorists who landed in Mumbai on 26/11 than any of their victims or those who tried to capture them. Fair enough. Read more

Despite its thoroughly entertaining exposition and great period detailing (the computer/mobile-free ‘80s with just two state-manufactured cars, HMT watches and all the inconveniences of the License Raj!), something about Neeraj Pandey’s Special 26left me feeling disturbed. Read more

Three destinies tied together by a name. That’s the premise of Bejoy Nambiar’s David. His first, Shaitan, had reminded me of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Amores Perrosfor its lament on human civilisation and modern cities where everything has eroded––love, family, trust, but above all, humanity itself. Read more

Some of us have waited decades to see Farooq Sheikh play the lead in a film. Just to hear the man say, "I love you" to his longtime screen companion Deepti Naval is well worth the price of a ticket for Listen Amaya. Read more

Just going by the number of brand partners acknowledged at the beginning of Race 2, you already know it’s a money-spinner. Apart from a showroom-full of Audi cars of different sizes, there’s a comprehensive catalogue of eyewear for everyone including Anil Kapoor. Read more

How does this re-birth of beings take place is explained by another well-founded “doctrine of Karma” which is the cause and effect relationship. Cause & effect must be equal. Like the smallest pebble thrown into water causing a ripple effect, however short-lived, so also, all our thoughts, desires, emotions and actions must produce results appropriate to cause i.e. thoughts, desires, actions etc. Read more

“I think therefore, I exist" said the great thinker and philosopher Descartes. This is true at the mental plane of our existence. Mind being not aware of is unconsciousness, a vegetable existence indeed. Indian philosophy does not stop at the mental plane but goes beyond to inquire into what energizes mind to think, eyes to see, ears to hear, nose to smell, tongue to taste, skin to feel, heart to beat, blood to circulate, bowels to digest and organs of action to function. Read more

I spent the best time of my growing life in a chawl not very different from the one shown in Ravi Jadhav’s Balak Palak. Peopled by characters that seem unnaturally innocent in hindsight––even with their quirks and squabbles and tendency to gossip––these houses gave their inhabitants a sense of community. Read more

Firstly, wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful year ahead! May this year be filled with opportunities, success and celebrations! now to business then. Early last year we played a prediction game on this space. It's the time of the year to do reality check. Read more